Syrian exiles in Lebanon find comfort in familiar food in restaurants

Customers having lunch at a Syrian restaurant specialising in food from Aleppo, in the Lebanese capital Beirut. War in Syria has brought to Beirut a wealth of restaurants and cafes serving delicacies from Damascus and Aleppo. — AFP

A Syrian chef whips up Aleppan dishes to win over Lebanese taste buds and offer a taste of home to fellow exiles.

NOT long ago, chef Abu Wassim saw himself as king of the shawarma in Damascus, with students, businessmen and even actors queueing outside his stand for a bite of his succulent wraps.